PEOPLE power has triumphed after wind turbines interfered with residents’ television reception.

PEOPLE power has triumphed after wind turbines interfered with residents’ television reception.

Since April Freeview customers in parts of Langley Park, County Durham, have been unable to watch a number of channels.

Its thought up to 100 households have been affected and when they complained, they were stonewalled by companies saying it was not their responsibility.

But after months of fighting, Langley Park residents have seen a U-turn by energy supplier EDF, which has confirmed the problems have been caused by wind turbines.

EDF accepts thorough checks on the impact of turbines on digital reception were not carried out before work on the wind farm started.

Lawrie Milner, 58, is one of the many who experienced problems when construction work started.

To get to the root of the problem he did surveys within the community and set up a website to keep his neighbours informed.

His findings revealed all those unable to watch their Freeview channels lived in the same area where the turbines were in the line of sight between homes and Pontop Pike aerial. They included Woodview, Pine Street, Park Drive, Oak Street, Bridge Street, Dean Street and Bridgeway.

He said: “From the start we were told it was not the problem of EDF. We felt fobbed off so I decided to research the matter. It emerged consultants had looked at the impact of turbines on terrestrial TV but not digital services.”

Following a public meeting last month between residents, EDF and Derwentside Council planners, the energy company agreed to carry out a survey of affected households.

But this week it abandoned its plan in favour of fitting all the affected homes with Freesat, allowing residents to tune back into their sets.

Lawrie said: “This is a clear victory for people power and for those living without a full TV service since April.”

A spokesman for EDF Energy said: “EDF takes its role within the communities its serves very seriously.

“Once we were made aware of deterioration in television reception we appointed independent consultants to carry out an investigation.

“The results indicated that a number of properties have seen a deterioration in their television reception as a result of interference from the turbines.”

Following the community’s campaign, Ofcom, which offers guidance with the BBC about the potential impact new developments such as wind farms could have on TV reception, will be updating its advice to cover both digital and analogue receptions.

An Ofcom spokesman said: “We can confirm that we are proposing to update our joint guidance on tall buildings and wind farms, which is published with the BBC.

“Digital Terrestrial Television or Freeview are generally less affected by wind farms than analogue television. At digital switchover this will further reduce the problem.”

Anyone in Langley Park who feels their Freeview disruption is related to the wind farm and has not registered the problem can contact Margaret Hanson at EDF on (0191) 512 5837.